Link-mesh machine



1,514.635 O. SODERSTROM ET AL LINK MESH MACHINE Filed June 6, 19?.) 5Sheets-Sheet 2 @vr/uente@ Nov. 11 1, 1924;

"FW nwo. W\%MNM o. soDERs-rRoM ET AL LINK MESH MACHINE Nov. 11 1924.1,514,635

Filed June 6, 192] 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 LINK MESH MACHINE Filed June 6j 192x5 sheets-sheet 4 T" WJ! 7 J/ i0 0% z3 A y Z4 0%. f7 ff ff Nov. 11 1924o1,514,635

o. soDERsTRoM ET AL LINK MESH MACHINE Filed June 6, 192) 5 Sheets-Sheet5 4%@ 24 /7 j 34 Z y Patented Nov0 ll, i924.

OSCAR SODERSTBGM AND FRED HARRIS LYNDS, OEI' NORTH ATTLEBORO, MASSACHU-SETTS, ASSIGNORS TO WHIT'NG it DAV 1S COMPANY, A CORPORATION O'E MASSA.-

CHUSETTS` LINK-MESH MACHINE.

.Application filed June 6,

To all fro/wm t may] concern.: Y

Re it known that We, OSCAR SonnnsrnoM, a citizen of the United States,resident of North Attleboro, county of Bristol, Massachusetts, and Whosepost-office address is c/o lhiting 8a Davis Company, Plainville, NorfolkCounty, State Yof Massachusetts, and linnn HARRIS LYNDs, a citizen ofthe United States, and resident of llorth Attleboro, county of Bristol,Massachusetts, Whose post-office address is c/o Whiting & Davis Company,Plainville, Norfolk County, State of lllassacbusetts, have inventedcertain new and useful vlmprovements in Linkll/lesh Machines; and vve dohereby declare the following` to be a full, olea-r, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a machine for cutting' pieces of a selecte-dshape from a sheet of link mesh fabric.

It has been the practice, heretofore, to cut designs or shapes, as forinstance, those used for making mesh bags, from a piece of link meshfabric by hand. l/Vhen the cutting` operation is performed in this Way,the operator cuts the links one by one with scissors or a similar tool,counting the links along the outline of the design as the cuttingoperation proceeds so that the finished shape will be of the desireddesign. This hand operation is tedious and necessarily sloiv, andconstitutes a large item of cost in (he production of link mesh bags.

The machine of the present invention eliminates the expensive. andfrequently inaccurate manual operations above referred to, and is soarranged that pieces of mesh of any desired shape may be outlined in thefabric With each piece an exact duplicate of every other made accordingto the same pattern. The machine operates rapidly and under completecontrol, and the change from one pattern to another may be effectedreadily and Without extended delay.

The machine is so constructed that it may operate simply to outline adesign on the fabric, as for example, the shape of a piece such as wouldbe used for a handbag, by indicating or identifying the links to beremoved from the fabric along th-e edger of the piece. For this purposethe machine may include devices for marking the selected links in anysuitable Way so that the oper- 1921. Serial No. 475,214.

ator may thereafter cut or otherwise remove the marked `links to producethe piece. Preferably, these devices are formed to sever the selectedlinks so that the parts of the link will at once drop out of the fabric,or yelse facilitate their removal by spreading apart the abutting endsof the selected links by an amount at least equal to the diameter of thelink Wire. lli/hen such spreading devices are employed, the entirelength of fabric is passed through the machine, and, after its removaltherefrom, is shaken so that the spread links will drop out, thuscompleting the formation of the pieces of the desired shape. Y

The invention, accordingly, involveslthe provision of a support for thepiece of fabric to be treated, and a multiplicity of link marking,spreading, or severing elements,

corresponding in number and position to the links in a row across thefabric. The support and the elements areso arranged that the fabric andthe elements maybe given arrelative movement, such that successiveportions of the fabric may be acted on by the elements, and a secondrelative movement in the course of which the elements perform theirfunction. Preferably the fabric is advanced with a step by step movementpast the elements and the latter are moved relative to the fabric in theperiods of rest of this movement. The operation of the elements actingon the links is under the control of a pattern mechanism which mayconveniently include an endless roll or sheet having perforations orprojections disposed over its surface according to the-shape of thepieces of mesh which are to be made. The pattern mechanism isV arrangedto move the roll with a step by step movement in correspondence with themovement of the fabric and the perforations are placed in roWs tocorrespond With the roivs of links in the fabric. Also the perforationsin each rovv correspond in position to the position of the links in arovv although the number of perforations vvill actually be lless innumber than the number of links in the row unless the pattern requiresthat the fabric be severed entirely across. The mechanism by which thepattern roll or sheet controls the action of the devices which act onthe individual links includes a multiplicity of members Which correspondin number to the number of elements, and in turn to the number of linksin a row. 1n each period of rest in the movement of the pattern sheet,the members and pattern sheet are brought into contact and the .memberstake positions which are determined by the location of the perforationsin the pattern sheet. llVhen such action has taken place, selectedmembers will have been disposed so as to bring into action th-e elementsby which the links are to be acted upon and the location of theperforations on the pattern roll thus determines lwhich links will bemarked, severed, or spread, as the case may be. After the latteroperation has occurred, the .parts are vrestored to normal position andthe pattern roll and the piece of fabric make another forward step,whereupon t-he cycle of operations is repeated.

The form of machine at present preferred is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figurel is a view of the machine partlyin elevation and partly in section;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the machine partly in section;

.1, Figure?) is a. view along the line 3 3 of Figure 1; Figures 4, 5, 6and are detail views of ythe link markingand separating mechanismsshowing the cycle of operation;

Figure 8 is a detail plan view of the link marking and separatingmechanisms and associated parts; n

Figure 9 illustrates a pattern for an article of link mesh, and

Figure 10 represents an outline of the articlemarked on the link .meshfabric by the link marking and separating mechanisms.

Referring to Figures 4-7, the link mesh fabric 11, out of which thearticle of link mesh is to be cut, is suspended from a suitablesupporting and feed roller 12, the .face of which is preferably7provided with means (not shown) for engaging the links of the fabric andpositively moving them, forward. Slidably mounted in grooves at the topof the block 13 is a series of selector bars 14, there being one ofthese bars for each link across the width of the fabric. The end of eachof the selector bars is reduced to form a link marker or spreader 15which is adapted to .enter the link of the fabric in alignment with thebar, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. The dimensions of the linkmarker are such that when the marker is inserted in a `link itwillspread vit open, parting the abutting ends of the ring of wireconstitutingthe link an amount at leastequal to the diameter iof lthewire. The spread link is then removable from adjacent links simply Vbyshaking the' fabric. rlhis spreading of the. links Ais readilyaccomplished by the insertion .of the marker, since the abutting ends ofthe rings of the fabric are left unsoldered until after the article iscut to shape. The lower edge of each of the separator bars is channelledat 16 to receive the upper end of a stationary bar 17, and the bars areheld in position by a cover plate 18 extending from one side of themachine to the other. Fastened to the block 13 is a second block 19having` a recess 2O into which the ends of the selector bars 14 maymove. Keyed to a stationary shaft 21 is a roll 22 having an arcuategroove 23 running the length of the roll. Passing over this roll, andactuated by means hereinafter to be described, is an endless perforatedpattern roll or sheet 24, the perforations 25 in which, as shown inFigure 9, outline the article to be cut from the fabric. Between theroll 22 and the block 19 is a. shaft 26 on which are loosely mounted aseries of feed dogs 27 corresponding in number to the number of selectorbars, and positioned one directly in back of each ofthe correspondingselector bars. riihe shaft 26 has a plurality of circumferential grooves23 in which are mounted a plurality of separator bars 29 for separatingpairs of adjacent feed dogs 'to insure independent motion of the latteraround the shaft 25. The feed dogs 27 are each formed with an upper armtermina-ting in a projection 30 adapted to enter the recess 2O to blockthe backward movement o-f the corresponding selector bar into therecess; and a lower arm carrying kthe pin 31 adapted to enter thearcuate groove 23 in the roll 22 through the perforations 25 in thepattern sheet. The center of gravity of vthe feed dogs 27 is disposed tothe left of the shaft 26 (referring to Figures 447) so that the dogstend to drop around the shaft in a counter clockwise direction restingnormally on the stop 32 provided by the end of `the block 19. The end ofthe block 19 has an arcuate groove 33 in which a semi-circular rockershaft 34 is supported. This shaft 34 is connected to actuating means toimpart thereto an. intermittent turning` movement to rotate the dogsabout the shaft 26 and raise the projections 30 out of the recesses 20to clear the ends ofthe selector bars 14 so that these are free to slideinto the recesses.

The machine Yhas a table 35, supported on legs 36. Mounted to slidebetween the guideways 37 on the table is a carriage 38. Supported on thecarriage are the blocks 13 and 19 carrying the selector bars 14, therocker shaft 34 and the shaft 26 which is fastened in brackets 19asecured to block 19. Also mounted on the carriage are brackets 39 forholding the shaft 21, and brackets 40 serving as bearings for a pair ofguide rollers 41 over which the pattern sheet 24 passes, the latterbeing held taut on the rollers 41 and roll 22 by a tension roller 42,loosely slung within the end of the sheet and bearing down upon it. Aguide 413 is adjustahly secured on the shaft 26 by meansl of set screws4A and ei;- tends across and `contiguous to the roll to prevent thepattern sheet leaving)r the roll.

The ends of the shaft 2l. are sq 1dared to lit the slots 45 in thebrackets 39 in which the shaft is secured by set screws 4:6; similarlythe brackets 40 are slotted at e6@ Thus the roll 22 and the upper rolleril may be removed, the pattern sheet taken out of the machine and a newone inserted.

Loosely mounted on the ends of the shaft 2l is a pair of feed rollersii7 for feedii'igi,v the pattern sheet 24 over the stationary roll 22.Each of these feed rollers has circumferentially spaced pins 49 forengaging corresponding marginal perforations 50 in the pattern sheet bywhich the latter is moved over the surface of the roll 22, The feedrollers 47 are actuated by means of pawl and ratchet mechanisms, ratchetteeth 5l on the periphery of the rollersbeinp; engaged by spring pressedpawls 52. Each ofy these pawls is mounted in ay bayonet slot 53 in orderthat it may be locked inv inoperative position, and the slot 56 is cutin one arm 54 of a bell crank 55 which is pivoted at 55 to the block 13.The other arms of the bellcranks terminate in circular portions 57 whichare held against movement relative to the table by pairs of abutments 58secured to the table top. llVhen the carriage 38 is reciprocated byactuating means about to be described, the pivot points 56 of the bellcranks 55 are carried along with the block, and since the ends 57 of thebell cranks are held against movement with the carriage, the bell cranksoscillate about their pivot points, moving the pawls 52 upwardly anddownvvardly` and giving to therollers -t7 a step by step movementthrough engage-- ment with the ratchet teeth 51.

The table 35 has a bearing' 59-in which is mounted a shaft 60 having' atits upper end a head 6l, the latter carrying on its upper surface aneccentric pin 62. The pin 62`fits into the block 63 movable iii alaterally ei;- tending,` recess 641 in the under side of the carriageThe shaft 60 carries a bevel gear 65 meshing with a bevel gear 66 on theend of a shaft 67, the latter of which is mounted in a bearing 68depending from the table 35. At the outer end of shaft 67 is a beltpulley 69 for connection to power,

yand also ay hand wheel 70 for operating` the moving' parts of themachine by hand. The shaft 67 is disengageable from the driving; meansby a clutch`7l ythat is engaged by arms 72, fixed on a shaft 73 at theend of which is a handle 711 for ojrierating the clutch. lhen the clutch7l is thrown in, connecting' the shaft 67 to power, the shaft 6() isrotatedV through gears 65 and 66, and the block 63, under the action ofthe eccentric pin 62, moves the carriage imparting;y to it reciprocatorymotion toward and awayk upon thereby. This step by step feeding ofy themesh fabric is effected by imparting to the roller l2 an intermittentstep bj sten rotation in timed relation with the step b v stepmoven'icnt of the rollers 41.57 carrying` the pattern sheet 24. Thistimed movement of the roller l2 is accomplished by a rocker arm 75loosely mounted on shaft a6, the rocker arm being actuated during` theforwardV and backward movement of the kcar-- riage 38 by pin 76, securedto the block 13, against which the rocker arm is held by a spring 79,fined` at one end to a block 80, and attached at its other end to a pin8l on the arm. Formed on the outer end of the rocker arm is a projection77, and inwardly along the arm from this projection is a out awayportion 78. When the carriage 38 is at its eXtreme outward position,that is to the right in Figure l, the projection 77 of the rocker arm isin engagement with'thc pin 76 and the arm is depressed by the projectionin a clockwise direction to its lowermost position. lvlllien, however,the carriage moves forwardly, or inwardly toward the mesh fabric 1l, thecutaway portion of thef arm comes in Contact with the pin 76 thusproducing an upward movement of the arm in a counter clockwise directionunder the vaction of the spring `7 9. This movement of the rocker arm iscommunicated to shafts-8 by means of a springpressed pawl 86 acting;-oii the peripheral teeth 87r of the ratchet wheel 88 tixedto shaft 416.f Hence. as the carriage 38 is reciprocated the rocker anni lisoscillated up ,vardly and downwardly, producing corresl'ionding,-oscillations of the shaft flS'and roller l2, thus feeding; the meshfabric 11 forwardly step by step between Va pair of pressure rollers 82which preclude slipping of the fabric and insure positive, accuratefeeding. The pressure rollers are mounted yin split bearings, the upperparts of which are formed in a cover plate 64; hinged at 83 so that thecover plate may be opened to permit the removal of the rollers 82. Thecover plate is secured in closed position'by the screw shaft 34 to clearthe ends of the selector bars. As the carriage moves forwardly, therocker shaft is turnedto the position indicated in Figure 5, thuspermitting the dogs 27 to fall until the pins y32 thereof contact withthe surface of the pattern sheet, or enter the perforations 25, as inFigures 5 and G. In the latter case, the dogs fall to the stop 32, theirkproject-ions 30 entering the recesses 20 directly,7 in back of selectorbars 14 to prevent backward movement thereof. The feed dogs which fallwithout encountering perforations in the pattern sheet contact with thesurface of the sheet and are held in raised position clear of the endsof the corresponding selector bars. lhen the bars are advanced to thepositions shown in Figures 6 and 7 the spreaders 15 on the ends of theselector bars, fixed in operative positions by the feed dogs, enterlinks A and are forced therethrough, spreading the lin rs open `byparting the abutting ends of the rings of wire constituting the links anamount equal at least to the diameter of the wire. The tip ends of thespreaders enter the slots 39 in a block 90 secured to the block 80, theslots acting to steady the selector bars. rThe links A are links on theoutline of the pattern of the article to be cut from the mesh, and sincethese links are spread open, they may readily be removed to detach thearticle from the fabric by shaking the fabric after the operation ofoutlining the design is completed. The spreaders 15 of the selector barsthat are not selected, or lfixed in operative positions toenter thelinks, by the feed dogs, come in contact with the mesh fabric whichpushes the bars backwardly into the respective recesses 2O as the block13 advances. These bars are brought back in alignment by the stationarybar 17 at the end of the return movement of the carriage, at which timethe feed dogs are again raised by the rocker shaft 34 to clear the endsof the selector bars, thus completing they cycle.

The intermittent movement of the rocker shaft 34 is produced by an arm91 reciprocated vertically by an eccentric 92 acting through the plunger93, the` latter having a roller 94 bearing on the periphery of theeccentric. The roller 94 at the end of the plunger 93 is held againstthe face of the eccentric by means of a spring 93, one end of which issecured to the table 35, the other to a pin extending from the arm 91.On the end of the shaft 34 is a lever 96 carrying pins 95. When inraised position the end of the arm wipes the lowermost of pins 95 movingit'upward thus rocking the lever and shaft. This action takes place atthe beginning and end of each cycle t-o raise the kfeed dogs and permitfree movement of the selector bars as explained.

vSummarizing the operation, the reciproeating movement of the carriage38 in turn causes the step by step advance of the fabric a row at atime, advances the pattern roll in correspondence with the fabricmovement, brings into action, under the control 'of the pattern,certain-of the feed dogs, and

causes the selector bars which are in turn controlled by the feed dogs,to perform their function in spreading the links of the mesh. fabric isadvanced to position to be operated on, a corresponding portion of thepattern is also brought into operative position.

ward with the carriage, such of the bars as' are prevented from returnmovement by the dogs act on the links and cause them to be spread apart,while the others move freely As each new. rovv of linksl in the backwardupon engagement with the links and therefore perform no spreadingflinction. After the `spreading operation has taken place, the feed dogsare raised to position out of contact with the pattern sheet, and thecarriage moves back. During this latter movement the selector' bars aremoved awa-y from the fabric and placed in yalignment by means of thestationary bar eX- tending through the carriage. As the vcarriage againmoves forward, the fabric and pattern sheet are advanced one step andthe operation of the selector bars and feed dogs again takes place,theiseveral parts being actuated in proper timed relation. This cycle ofoperations occurs for each rowof links acrossthefabric and continues'until t-he piece of mesh which is to be removed from the fabric hasbeen completely outlined, whereupon the pattern makes a second passagethrough the machineand a second piece of the same shape is marked out.

Fig. 10 shows a piece of link mesh fabric and a design is indicatedthereon for a shape such as might be used in making a mesh bag. A pieceof this shape is cut from the sheet and folded over upon itself; thenthe coacting edges are joined together by inserting suitable links. Toget a series of pieces of this shape from the sheet. a pattern sheet isinserted in the machineJ Ihaving openings therein spaced to correspondwith the spacing of the rings to be removed from the sheet of mesh toform the piece `shown in Fig. 10. The machine is then started inoperation and in ea-ch cycle of operations the sheet of mesh is movedforward one step and also the pattern sheet is moved forward one step.In each operation certain of the yselector bars 14 are selected by themovement of the corresponding dogswhose proj ectio-ns 31 enter openingsin the pattern sheet, and when all of the selector bars move forward,the ones that have been selected enter rings of the fabric and spreadthose'rings slightly. Thus, for spreading the rings in the line acrossthe upper part of the design indicated in Fig. l0, a plurality ofselector' bars would be selected and used for spreading wings. In thenext operation only two selector bars would be selected vand those twowould operate to spread rings. The operation would be continued thusuntil the whole design was cut and then. the endless pattern sheet wouldbe brought around to the position for repeating the operation. Theoperation might be repeated a great number oftimes, the sheet of linkmesh fabric being collected in a box below the supporting roller l2.

1t will be understood that in accordance with this preferred operationof spreading the rings, the rings which have been spread remain inposition. After a succession of the shapes have been cut out to thisextent and a long piece of the fabric has collected in the receivingtray, the operator takes this piece in his hands and shakes it and inthe course of this shaking operation the rings which have been spreaddrop out rapidly and finally the shapes are no longer held in positionin the sheet of mesh and fall out.

1t should be understood that the principles of this invention may beutilized in machines employed for completely severing the rings whichare to be taken out or machines in which the rings to be extracted aremarked in any suitable way so that they may be identified as links whichare toy be cut in a subsequent operation. But the operation of spreadingthe rings isr preferred, particularly whenoperatingupon line mesh fabrichaving rings made'of very light wire as there is less danger of injuryto rings of the fabric other than those 'which are removed.

1V e claim:

l. The combination of a support for a piece of link mesh fabric havingthe links thereof arranged in rows lengthwise and crosswise of thepiece, means for moving the piece of fabric in the direction of itslength, a multiplicity of elements each corresponding to a link in acrosswise row of links of the piece of mesh and adapted to act uponindividual links to facilitate their removal from the piece of mesh, apattern sheet, means for moving the pattern sheet in correspondence withthe movement of the piece of mesh, a plurality of members cac-hcorresponding to one of said elements and cooperating with the patternsheet, means for moving the pattern sheet and said members relativelywhereby certain of said members are selected and caused to moveI in amanner different from theI other members, and means for actuating theelements corresponding to the members so selected to cause these'particular elements to act upon links ofthe piece of ine-shin the row towhich they correspond. e

The combination of a support for a piece of link mesh fabric having thelinks thereof arranged in rows lengthwise and crosswise of the piece,means for moving the piece of fabric in the direction of its length witha step by step movement, one

row ata step, a multiplicity of elements' each corresponding to a linkin a crosswise/ periods of rest of the step by step movement of thepattern sheet whereby certain of said members are selected andV causedto move in a manner different from the other members, and means foractuating the elements cor responding to the members so selected'in theperiods of rest of the step by step movement of the piece of mesh tocause these particular elements to act upon links of the piece of meshin the row to which they correspond. i

3. rThe combination of a support for a piece of link mesh fabric havingthe links thereof arranged in rows lengthwise and crosswise of thepiece, means for moving the piece of fabric in the direction of itslength, a power driven reciprocating carriage, a multiplicity ofelements mounted on the carriage, `each of these elements correspondingto a link in a crosswise row of links of the piece of mesh and adaptedto act upon individual links to facilitate their removal from the pieceof mesh, a pattern sheet, means for moving the patternsheet incorrespondence with they movement of the piece of mesh, a plurality ofmembers each corresponding to one of said elements and cooperating withthe pattern sheet, means for moving the pattern sheet and said membersrelatively whereby certain of said members are selected and caused tomove ina manner different from the yother members, and means for movingthe carriage relative to the mesh whereby the particular elementscorresponding to the members se-V lected by the pattern sheet arecausedto act upon links ofthe piece of mesh in the row to which theycorrespond.

l. The combination of a support for a piece of link mesh fabric havingthe links thereof arranged in rows lengthwise and crosswise of thefabric, a multiplicity of elef ments each corresponding to a link in acrosswlse row of links 1n the piece'of meshv takes place, and alsooccurring in the periods of rest of said step by step movement.

9. The eomliiination of support for :i piece of mesh fabric containing aseries of trai'isverse rows of links, power driven means for advancingthe fabric with a step by step movement, each step corresponding inamount to the diameter of a link, a pattern sheet, power driven meansfor advancing the pattern sheet with a step by step movementcorresponding to the movement of the fabric, a multiplicity of elementscorresponding in number and position to the links in a row across thefabric for acting on individual links to facilitate their removal fromthe fabric, a multiplicity of members, one for each of said elements,cooperating with the pattern sheet and controlling the action of theelements, a carriage on which the members and the elements are mounted,means for producing a relative movement of the carriage and the fabricto cause the elements to engage the links, and power driven means forproducing a relative movement of the members and the pat-tern sheet tocause selected members to render their associated elements operative.

10. The combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containing aseries of transverse rows of links, power driven means for advancing thefabric with a step by step movement, one row at a step, a multiplicityof elements corresponding in number and position to the links in a row,for acting on individual links to facilitate their removal from thefabric, a multiplicity of members, one for each of the elements, forrendering the latter operative to act upon the links, a pattern sheet,means for advancing the pattern sheet with a step by step movement incorrespondence with the advance of the fabric, a reciprocatine` carriageon which the elements and the members are mounted, power driven meansfor reciprocating the carriage toward and awayA from the fabric to bringthe elements into contact with the links thereof, and power driven meansfor producing a relative movement of the members and the pattern sheetto cause the sheet to render selected members operative whereby theirassociated elements are caused to act upon the links.

11. The combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containing aseries of transverse rows of links, means for advancing the fabric witha step by step movement, one row at each step, a pattern sheet, meansfor advancing the pattern sheet with a step by step movementcorresponding to the movement of the fabric, a multiplicity of elementscorresponding in number and position to the links in a row, foroperatingY upon individual links to yfacili,- tate their removal fromthe fabric, and

means controlled by the pattern sheet and mo -able into contact with thelatter in the periods of rest of the step by step movement of thepattern sheet, the said means being rendered effective by its contactwith the sheetto cause selected elements to act upon the linkscorresponding thereto.

lit The. combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containinga series of transverse rows of links, means for adrancing the fabricwith a step by step movement, one row at each step, a pattern sheet,means for advancing the pattern sheet with a step by step movementcorresponding to the kmovement of the fabric, a multiplicity of elementscorresponding in number and position to the links in a row for acting onindividual. links to facilitate their removal from the fabric.,` powerdriven means for advancing the elcments toward the fabric to ca ,e theelements to contact with the llinn's thereof in the periods of rest ofthe step by step movement of the fabric, and a multiplicity of members,one for each of the elements, controlled by the pattern sheet and mov--able into contact therewith in the periods of rest of the step by stepmovement of the sheet, these members in turn controlling the action ofthe elements upon the links.

13. rllhe combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containinga series of transverse rows of links, means for advancing the fabricwith a step by step movement, one row at each step, a pattern sheet,means for advancing the pattern sheet with a step by'stcp movementcorresponding to the moven ont of the fabric, a multiplicity of elementscorresponding in number and position to the links in a row for acting onindividual links to facilitate their removal from the fabric, a'multiplicity of members, one for each ofthe elements, for controllingthe action of the latter, power driven means for moving the elementstoward and away from the fabric, and power driven means for moving themembers into contact with the sheet whereby selected members will rendertheir asso-- ciate-d elements effective to act upon the linkscorresponding thereto.

14e. The combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containinga series of transverse rows of links, kmeans for advancing the fabricywith step by step movement, one row at each step, a pattern sheet,means, for advancing the pattern sheet with a step by step movementcorresponding to the movement of the fabric,

a power driven reciprocating carriage, a

multiplicity of elements corresponding in number and position to thelinks in a row operable to act upon individual links to facilitate theirremoval from the fabric and Uli movable as the carriage reciprocatesinto contact with these links, a multiplicity of members mounted on thecarriage and operable to cause the elements to act upon individual linksto facilitate their removal from the fabric, and means for bringing themembers into Contact with the pattern sheet whereby selected members arerendered effective to cause their associated elements to act upon thelinks. l5. The combination of a support for a piece oi mesh fabriccontaining a series ol" transverse rows of links, means for advancingthecfabric step by step, one row at a step, a poweil drivenreciprocating carriage, a pattern sheet supported on the carriage andmovable with e. step by step movement corresponding to that of thefabric, a multiplicity of elements on the carriage corresponding innumber and posit-ion to the links in a row, and operable to act uponthese links t facilitate their removal from the fabric, these elementsbeing brought into contact with the links as the carriage reciprocates,a multiplicity oifvmembers, one for each element, movable into contactwith the pattern sheet, and by their position ot Contact operable torender selected elements effective to act upon the links, andpowerdriven means li'or bringing the members intoy contact with thepattern sheet during the periods of rest of the step by step movement ofthe latter.

16.*The combination of a support for a i piece of mesh fabric containinga series of transverse rows of links, means for advencing the fabric bystep one row et o step, c reciprocating carriage movoble toward and awayfrom the lfabric, o pettcrn .sheetcupported on the carriage and movablewith a step by eten movement corresponding to that of the fabric ce thecerrioge reoiprocctee, a multiplicity of elemente mounted on thecorriege end corres ending in number and position to the lin e in o row,these clemente bein brought intocontect with the links of tie fabric bythe carriage during the periods of reet in the step by ete: movement ofthe fabric, and o multiplici y ot members under the control of theettern sheet and in turn rendering selecte elemente effective to ectupon the linke in accordance with the pattern formed on the patternsheety 17. The combination of c support for a piece of mech fabriccontaining a series o' transverse rows of linke, a, power drivenrcciproceting carrie e, means operated b the reciprocction o thecarriage for e vencing the fabric with e step by step movement, one rowof links et e step, a pattern sheet supported on the carriage, meansopcreted by the reciprocction o the carriage for advancing the patternsheet with c step c by step movement corresponding to the movement ofthe fabric, a multiplicity of elements supported 0n the carriage andcorresponding in number and position to the links in a row, theseelements being operable to act upon individual links to facilitate theirremoval from the fabric, and being brought into contact with the linksas the carriage reciprocates, and a multiplicity of members, one foreach of the elements, controlled by the pattern sheet and in turnoperable to render selected elements edsctive to act upon thecorresponding links.

y18. The combinationy of a support for ay piece of mesh fabriccontaining a series of transverse rows oi links, a power drivenreciprocating carriage, means operated by the reci'procation or' thecarriage for advancing the fabric with a step by step movement, one rowof links at a step, a pattern sheet supported on the carriage, meansoperated by the reciprocation of the carriage for advancing the patternsheet with a. step. by step movement corresponding to the movement oi'the fabric, a multiplicity oi elements supported on the carriage yandcorresponding in number and position to the links in a row, theseelements being operable to act upon individual links to facilitate theirremoval from the fabric, and being brought into contact with the linksas the carriage reciprocates, a multiplicity oi members, one for each ofthe element-s, mounted on the carriage and operable under the control ofthe pattern sheet to render the elements effective to act'upon thelinks, and power driven means for bringing the members under the controlof the pattern sheet whereby selected members are rendered o erctivc,

i9. e combination of a support for e piece of mesh fabric containing@series of transverse rows of linke, c power driven rcciprocetingcarriage, means operated b the reciprocction of the carriage ior avencing the fabric with o step by step movement, one row at o step, cpet-tern sheet supported on the corrie c, means operated by thereciprocotion of t e carriage for edvcncingr the pattern with a step bystep movement corresponding to that of the fabric, e multiplicity ofselector bare correspending: in number end position to the links in arow tor acting upon individual linksl to facilitate their removal fromthe fabric, and moved by the carriage into contectwith the linlre, cmulti licity of feed dogs one for each selector ar, each feed dog beingrockoblc to e position controlled by the pattern sheet wherein itrendere its associated selector ber cective to ect upon c link and owerdriven means for bringing al the eed dogs into contact with t e patternsheet whereby selected feed dogs will be renderedl operative.

Q0@ The combmation yof a support for o piece of mesh fabric containing aseries of transverse rows of links, a power driven reciprocatingcarriage moving toward and away from the fabric carried by the support,means operable by the reciprocation of the carriage for advancing thefabric with a step by step movement, one row of links at a step, apattern sheet supported on the carriage, means operable by thereciprocation of the carriage for moving the pattern sheet with a stepby step movement in correspondence with the movement of the fabric, amultiplicity of selector bars slidably mounted in the carriage-andmovable by the latter into contact with the fabric, these selector barsycorresponding in number and position to the links in a row, and meansoperable in the periods of rest of the pattern sheet and under thecontrol of the latter for causing selected bars to act upon individuallinks to facilitate their removal from the fabric.

21. The combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containing aseries of transverse rows of links, a power driven reciprocatingcarriage moving toward and away from the fabric carried by the support,means operable by the reciprocation of the carriage for advancing thefabric with a step by step movement, one row of links at a step, apattern sheet supported on the carriage, means operable by thereciprocation of the carriage for moving` the pattern sheet with a stepby step movement in correspondence with the movement of the fabric, amutiplicity of selector bars loosely mounted in the carriage and movableby the latter into contact withthe fabric, these selector barscorresponding .in number and position to the links in a row, amultiplicity of feed. dogs, one for each selector bar, operable underthe control of the pattern sheet for rendering selected bars` effectiveto act upon corresponding links to facilitate their removal from thefabric, and power driven means operable for bringing the feed dogs intocontact with the pattern sheet, during the periods of rest of the stepby step movement of the latter, whereby selected dogs are renderedeffective.

22. The combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containing aseries of transverse rows of links, means for moving the mesh in thedirection of its length with a step by ste-p movement, one row at astep, a multiplicity of elements corresponding in number and position tothe links in a row and operable to act on individual links to facilitatetheir removal from the fabric, means for giving the elements and themesh a relative movementoccurring in the periods of rest of the step bystep advance of the fabric to cause the elements toact upon they links,a pattern sheet, means for advancing the pattern sheet with e step bystep move.-

ment in correspondence with the step by step movement of the fabric, amultiplicity of members, one for each of the elements, operable torender the said elements effective to act upon the links, these membershaving a portion adapted to contact with the elements and anotherportion adapted to contact with the pattern sheet, and means forproducing a relative movement of the pattern sheet and the membersoccurring in the periods of rest of the step by step movement of thepattern sheet to cause the pattern-engaging portion of said members tocontact with the pattern, whereby selected members are renderedeffective. Y

23. The combination of a support for a piece of mesh containing a seriesof transverse rows of links, means for advancing the mesh in thedirection of its length with a step by step movement, a power drivencarriage reciprocating toward and away from the face of the mesh, amultiplicity of selector bars supported in the carriage andcorresponding in number and position to the links in a row across themesh, these selector bars being brought into contact with the mesh asthe carriage reciprocates, a pattern sheet, means for advancing thepattern sheet with a step by step movement corresponding to the step bystep movement of the fabric, and a multiplicity of feed dogs, one foreach selector bar, brought under the control of the pattern sheet duringthe periods of rest of the movementk of the latter, the pattern sheetthus rendering selected feed dogs effective to cause their associatedselector bars to act upon the individual links of the fabric tofacilitate their removal therefrom.

2st. The combination of a supportI for a piece of mesh fabric containinga series of transverse rows of links, means for moving the fabric in thedirection of its length with a step by step movement, one row at a step,a power' driven reciprocating carriage movable toward and away from theface of the fabric, a multiplicity of selector bars slidably mounted inthe carriage and lying substantially normal to the face of the mesh,each selector bar being operable to act upon an individual link tofacilitate its removal from the fabric, a pattern sheet supported on thecarriage, means operable by the movement of the carriage for advancingthe pattern sheet with a step by step ino-vement corresponding to thestep by step advance of the mesh, a multiplicity of feed dogs, one foreach selector bar, movable to a position in which each feed dog iscontrolled by the pattern sheet, ,selected feed dogs by their contactwith the sheet being rendered effect-ive to canse the correspondingselector bars to act upon the links to facilitate their removal from themesh, and means Operable during the periods of rest of the step by stepadvance of the pattern sheet for bringing all of the feed dogs intocontact with the latter whereby selected dogs are rendered effective.

25. The combination of a rotary support for a piece ,of mesh fabriccontaining a series of transverse rows of links, ya portion of thefabric depending from this support, a multiplicity of e-lementscorrespondingv in number and positionvto the links in a row across themesh, means operable to cause theelements to Contact with the dependingportion of the mesh during the periods of rest of the latter, andVcontrol means for causing selected elements toy act upon individuallinks to facilitate their removal from thelfabric,y

26. The combination of a rotary support for a piece of Ymesh rfabriccontaining a series of transverse rows of links,`a vportion v.of thefabric depending from this support, a multiplicity ofelementscorresponding in number and position tothe links in a row across themesh, me; ns for giving ythe support a step by step rotation to causethe mesh 'to be advanced one row at a step, inea-ns for moving t-heelements yagainst the depending portion of the fabric, and control meansfor rendering selected eleme-nts operative to vact upon individual linksto facilitate their removal from the fabric.

27. The combination of a rotary support for a piece of` mesh fabriccontaining a series of transverse rows of links, a portion of the fabricdepending from lthis support, a multiplicity of elements correspondingin number and .position to the links in a row across the mesh andoperable to act upon individual links to facilitate their removal fromthe fabric, means for giving the support a step by step rotation tocause the mesh to be advanced one row at a step, means for movingtheelements against the depending portion of the fabric, Aa patternsheet movable with a step by step movement corresponding to the movementof the fabric, and a plurality of members, one for each of the elements,interposed between the pattern sheet and theelements and operable in theperiods of rest of the step by step movement of the pattern. sheet togovern the action of the elements in accorda-nce with the patterncarried by the sheet.

The combination of a rotary support for apiece of mesh fabric containinga seriesV of transverse rows of links, Va ratchet wheelcarried on thesupport, a power driven reciprocating carriage, a pawl engaging theratchet wheel and operable by the reciprocation of the carriage foradvancing the fabric one row per reciprocation, a multiplicity ofselector bars corresponding in number and position Ito the links in arow across the mesh, these L selector bars .being mounted in thecarriage and movable by the latter to Contact with individual links ofthe mesh, a pattern sheet, a rotary support for the pattern sheetmounted on the carriage and provided with a ratchet wheel, a pawl on thecarriage engaging this ratchet wheel and operable by the yreciprocationof the carriage to advance the pattern sheet with a step by stepmovement corresponding to that of the fabric, a multiplicity of feeddogs pivotally supported on the carriage, one for each of the selectorbars, and means for moving the group of feed dogs simultaneously intoengagement'. with the pattern sheet whereby selected. dogs are renderedeffective to lock their associated selector bars in operative ipositionin the carriage.

29. rlhe combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containinga series of transverse'rows of links, a Vpower `driven reciprocatingcarriage, means operable by the reciprocation of the latter forIadvancing the fabric with a step by step movement, one row at a step, a,multiplicity of elements corresponding in number .and `position to thelinks in a row across the fabric, these elements being loosely mountedin the carriage and moved into Contact with the fabric by thereciprocation of the carriage, a pattern sheet supported on thecarriage, means operable by the movement of the latter for advancing`thepattern sheet with a step by step move-ment corresponding to that ofthe fabric, a multiplicity of locking members supported on the carriage,.one for each element, and means for moving vthe locking members intoengagement with the pattern sheet whereby selected members, determinedby the pattern sheet, render .their associated `elements effective toact upon the links to facilitate their removal from lthe fabric.

80. The combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containing aseriesof transverse rows of links, a `power driven reciprocatingcarriage vn'yiovable toward and away from the fabric, a `multiplicity,of selector bars corresponding in number and position to the links .ina vrow vacross the mesh, mounted in vthe carriage and movable by thelatter into contact with the fabric, a pattern sheet supported on thecarriage yand movable by the reciprocation of the latter with a step bystep mbvement corresponding to that of the fabric, va multiplicity oflocking'meinbers, vone for each selector bar, disposed ,between .thepattern sheet andthe selec-tor bars and a member rotating in timedrelation to the movement of t-he pattern sheet and operable in theperiods of rest of the step by step movenient of the latter to bring all:of the ,locking members into Contact vwith the pattern sheet, wherebyselected locking members render their associated selector bars effectiveto act upon individual links to facilitate their removal from thefabric.

31. In a machine for treating mesh fabric containing a series oftransverse rows of links to facilitate the removal of links therefrom inaccordance with a predetermined pattern, the combination of a supportfor a piece of fabric from which a free end of the fabric depends, amultiplicity of elements corresponding in number and position to thelinks in a row and operable to act upon individual links in a row in thedepending portion to facilitate their removal from the fabric, and powerdriven means forgiving the fabric and the elements a step by steprelative movement, whereby the rows of links are successively presentedto the elements, and forgiving the fabric and the elements a relativemovement occurring in the periods of rest of the movement first named tocause the elements to act upon individual links.

32. In a machine for treating mesh fabric containing a series oftransverse rows of links to facilitate the removal of links therefrom inaccordance with a predetermined pattern. the combination of a supportyfor a piece of fabric from which a free endof the fabric depends, amultiplicity of yelements corresponding in number and position to thelinks in a row across the mesh and operable to act upon individual linksin a row in the depending portion to facilitate their remoral from thefabric, power driven means for giving the fabric and the clem-ents astep by step relative movement whereby the rows of links aresuccessively presented to the elements, and for giving thel fabric andthe elements a relative movement occurring in the periods of rest of themovement first named to cause the elements to act upon individual links,and means for controlling the action of individual elements wherebyselected links may be acted upon in accordance with a predeterminedpattern.

83. In a machine of the class described, a support for a piece of meshfabric containing` a series of transverse rows of links, a

free end of the fabric depending` from the support, means for advancingthe piece of mesh in the direction of its length with a step by stepmovement a row at a step, and power driven means movable into contactwith the dependinff end of the fabric during the periods of rest of saidstep by step movement, and operable to act on individual links in a rowto facilitate their removal from the fabric.

84. In a machine of the class described, support for a piece of meshfabric containing a series of transverse rows of links, a free end ofthe fabric depending from the support, means foradvancing the piece ofmesh 1n the direction of its length with a step by step movement a rowat a step,-an'd a multiplicity of elements, corresponding iny number andposition to the links in a row,

these elements being' movable into Contact with the free end of thefabric in the periods of rest of the step by step movement thereof, andoperable to act upon individual links to facilitate their removal fromthe fabric.

35. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a supportfor a piece'of mesh lfabric containing a series of transverse rows oflinks, a free end of the fabric depending from the support, power drivenmeans for advancing the mesh. in the direction of its length with a stepby step mo rement, one row at a step', means operable in the periods ofrest of said step by step movement to act upon individual links in thedepending portion of the fabric to facilitate their removal therefrom,and control means for controlling the action of the means last mentionedwhereby the links may be acted on in accordance with a predeterminedpattern. u

36.'In a machine of the class described`v the combination of a supportfor a piece of mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows oflinks, power driven means foradvancing the mesh in the direction of its`length with a step by step movement, one row at a step, a multiplicityof elements corresponding in number and position to the links in a rowand operable in the periods of rest of the step by step movement of themesh to act upon individual links to facilitate their removal from thefabric, a pattern sheet movable with a step by step movementcorresponding to the movement of the mesh, and a multiplicity ofmembers, one for each of the elements, interposed between the elementsand the pattern sheet and movable into contact with the latter, thesemembers serving to render selected elements operative under the control.of thc pattern sheet. 37. In a machine of the class described. theVcombination of a support for a piece of mesh yfabric containing a.series of transverse rows of links, a free end of this fabric dependingfrom the support, power driven means for advancing the fabric with astep by step movement. one row at a step, means for acting uponindividual links in a row located in the free end of the fabric tofacilitate their removal yfrom the fabric, and power driven means forcausing the meansy last mentioned to engage the fabric during theperiods of rest in the step by step movement of the latter. v

- 38. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a supportfor a piece of mesh fabric containing a series of trans- CTI verse rowsof links, a free end of this fabric depending from the support, powerldriven means for advancing the fabric with a step by step movement, onerow at a step, means for acting upon individual links in a row locatedin the free end of the fabric to facilitate their removal from thefabric, power driven means for causing the means last mentioned vtoengage the fabric during the periodsof rest in the step by step movementof the latter` and means for controlling the action of saidmesh-engaging means to cause the links to be acted upon in accordancewith a' predetermined pattern.

39. In a machine `of the class described, the combination of a supportfo-r a piece of mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows oflinks, a free end ofthe fabric depending from this support, a patternsheet, means for advancing the fabric in the ydirection of its lengthwith a step by step movement, a row at a step, and for advancing Vthepattern sheet with a corresponding step by step movement, and meansinterposed between the pattern sheet and the depending portions of thefabric and operable during the periods of rest of the movement of thepiece of fabric and .the pattern sheet and under the control of thepattern sheet for acting upon selected links in successive rows in thedepending portion of the fabric to facilitate their removal therefrom.

40. In a machine for acting upon the links of a link mesh fabriccontaining a series of transverse rows of links to faciliytate theremoval of individual links therefrom, the combination of a multiplicityof selector bars, one foreach link in a row across the fabric, a patternsheet for controlling the action of the selector bars, a multiplicity offeed dogs, one for each selector bar, and power driven means forbringing the feed dogs and the .pattern sheet into contact wherebyselected feed vdogs lock their associated selector bars -in operativeposition.

41. The combination of a support for a piece of mesh containing a seriesof transverse rows of links, a power drivenreciproeating carriage, meansfor advancing the fabric in the direction of its length Iwith a rstep bystep movement, one row at astep, a multiplicity of selector bars, onefor each ,link in a row, and `operable to act upon individual 'linkstofacilitate their removal from the fabric, a pattern ;sheet, means foradvancing the pattern sheet with a step by step movement correspondingto the step by step movement of the fabric, ya multiplicity of feeddogs, one for eachselector bar, these yfeed dogs being mounted on aicommon support and lmovable to positions fin which they render .theirassociated selector bars operative, this action of the .feed dogsr beingunder the control ofthe patternsheet, and a ,rotary member acting on,all of the feed dogsand causing them to contact Vwith A,the patternsheet in the periods yof rest of the step by step movement of thelatterwhereby feed dogs, selected by the pattern sheet, act upon theirassociated selector bars.

42. The combination of ak support for a piece of link mesh fabriccontaining a series of transverse rows of links', a power drivenreciprocating carriage, means operable in accordance with thereciprocation of the carriage for advancing the piece of mesh with a.step by step movement in the direction of its length, one lrow at astep,

multiplicity of selector bars corresponding in number Vand positiontothe links in a row mounted in the carriage and movable with the latterinto contact with the links, a lpattern sheet, means operable inaccordance with the reciprocation of the carriage for advancing thepattern sheet with a step by step 4movement 4corresponding to that ofthe piece of fabric, a multiplicity of feed dogs, one for each selectorbar, interposed between the pattern sheet and the bars, and operableunder the control of the pattern sheet for rendering selected selectorbars effective to act yupon corresponding individual links to facilitatetheir removal from ,the fabric, and a rotary member moving in timedrelation with the movement of the pattern sheet and operable in theperiods of rest of the latter to cause all the feed `dogs to contactwith the sheet whereby selected dogs are rendered effective.

43. The combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containing aseries of transverse rows of links, a free end of this fabric dependingfrom the support, a power kdriven reciprocating carriage, means operablein accordance with the reciprocation of the carriage for advancing themesh with a step by st-ep movement in the direction of its length, onerow at a step, a multiplicity of selector bars corresponding in numberand position to the links in a row mounted in the carriage and movableinto contact with individual links in a row in the depending portion ofthe fabric by the reciprocation of the carriage, a pattern sheet, meansoperable in vaccordance with the reciprocation of the carriage foradvancing the pattern sheet with a stepby step movement correspondingtothe-movement ofthe fabric, amultiplicity of feed dogs, one for eachselector bar, interposed'between the pattern sheet and the selector barsand operable under the control of the pattern sheet to render theirassociated selector bars effective to act upon the links to facilitatetheir removal from the fabric, and a member .rotating in timed relationwith the step fby step movement fof the pattern sheet and operable inthe periods of rest of the movement of the latter to bring the feed dogsinto contact with the sheet whereby selected dogs are brought intoaction. y

fl. In a machine of the character described, a support for a piece oflink mesh fabric, a device for spreading open links of the fabric torender them removable from adjacent links, and means for moving thesupport and the device relative to each other to cause the latter to acton the links of the fabric along the outline of the pattern of anarticle, thereby to render the article removable from the fabric.

41.5. In a machine of the character described,'a support for a piece oflink mesh fabric, a selector bar adapted to render links of the fabricremovable from adjacent links by entering the links and spreading,` themopen, and means for moving the support and the selector bar relative toeach other to canse the latter to engage links of the fabric along theoutline of the pattern of an article, thereby to render the articleremovable from the fabric.

alti'. ln a machine of the character described, a support for a piece oflink mesh fabric, means for actuating the support to move the fabricstep by step, a series of slidably mounted selector bars adapted torender links of the fabric removable from adjacent links by entering thelinks and Spreading them open, a pattern, means coacting with thepattern for selectively fixing the selector bars in operative positions,and means for bringing the selector bars and fabric into contact tocause the bars iXed in operative positions to act upon correspondinglinks of the fabric along the outline of the pattern of an article,thereby to render the article removable from the fabric.

47, In a machine of the character de-V scribed, a support for a piece oflink mesh fabric, means for actuating the support to move the fabricstep by step, a carriage, selector bars slidably mounted on saidcarriage adapted to render links of thefabric removable from adjacentlinks by entering` the links and spreading them out, a patternconsisting of a perforated roll, said perforations outlining the designof the article to be cut from the fabric, feed dogs coacting With saidperforations for selectively fixing said bars in operative positions,and means for moving said feed dogs, carriage and pattern in timedrelation With the movement of the fabric to cause the bars fixed inposition to act on the links of the fabric along the outline of thepattern of an article, thereby to render the article removable from thefabric by the removal of said links.

48. In a machine for treating link mesh fabric to facilitate the removalof pieces therefrom, the combination of a support for a piece of fabric,and means for spreading a link of the fabric to facilitate itsrenio-Val.

49. In a machine for treating link mesh fabric to facilitate the removalof pieces therefrom, the combination of a support for a piece of linkmesh fabric, a plurality of spreading devices adapted to enter rings ofthe fabric to spread them and thus facilitate their removal, and meansfor selecting the spreaders to be operated to spread links of the fabricin accordance with a predetermined design.

50. In a machine for treating link mesh fabric to facilitate the removalof pieces therefrom, the combination of a support for the fabric andautomatic means for spreading links of the fabric to permit removalthereof in accordance with a predetermined design.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures. Y

OSCAR SODERSTROM. FRED HARRIS LYNDS.

